Houston to host parade honoring Iraq War veterans

Houston will host a parade next month to honor veterans who served in the Iraq War.

St. Louis became the first city in the country to host such a parade in January. The event reportedly drew 100,000 spectators who cheered and wave as hundreds of veterans marched through the streets of downtown.

Houston’s parade is scheduled for Saturday, April 7, said Gene Tulich, chairman of the Houston Military Affairs Committee. The Lone Star Veterans Association, a local Iraq and Afghanistan veterans group, will march front and center, followed by military personnel from local reserve and National Guard units, Tulich said. Veterans of previous wars also are invited to participate.

The parade will kick off between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with assembly about 2 p.m., Tulich said. The route has yet to be determined, but will end at Minute Maid Park, where the Astros have donated 1,000 tickets for personnel in uniform, and their families, in addition to Iraq War veterans who are no longer in uniform.

Jessica Michan, spokeswoman for Mayor Annise Parker, said the city can’t confirm the exact date and time until after a planning meeting Wednesday.

“The mayor wanted to do something to honor the Iraq War veterans,” Michan said. “She is proud to partner with the Astros for this and plans to have a major announcement with all the details in the next week or so.”

The parade will provide an opportunity to connect veterans with resources such as counseling, health care and civilian jobs, said Buddy Grantham, director of city’s Office of Veterans Affairs.

“It won’t be a big, giant Veterans Day parade — we already do those — but I see it as a parade where we are honoring the veterans and their families,” Grantham said. “That’s our goal. We want to say thank you for their service.”

With 91,000 troops still serving in Afghanistan, however, Department of Defense officials have said the time isn’t right for a New York-style ticker-tape parade like those held after World War II. Instead, the White House hosted a black-tie dinner for more than 200 Iraq War veterans and their spouses or guests on Feb. 29.

Pentagon spokesman Doug Wilson said last month that military leaders want to wait until all troops return from combat in Afghanistan before endorsing a national-level event, but in the meantime they do encourage local welcome home parades like the one in St. Louis.

“This isn’t just a one day thing,” said John Boerstler, an Iraq War veteran who serves as president of Lone Star Veterans Association, the group that will lead Houston’s parade.

“These veterans need to be welcomed home every day,” Boerstler said. “This isn’t just a media ploy to us. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of the issues that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans face. We’re working hard every day, all throughout the year, to prevent unemployment to prevent substance abuse, family problems and divorce, homelessness, crime, and most importantly suicide.”

9 Responses

OUTSTANDING!!! This is the sort of event Obama should be attending instead of $38K plate lunches far away from Main Street. Any Republican candidate who wants Texas should attend…let’s face it…there won’t be a whole lot of Democrats attending, they hate America and blame the troops for using up their welfare.

I think you need to check the politics of the Presidents who have been entrusted by fellow Americans to lead the nation in war – well, ever since Lincoln and he wouldn’t recognize, and probably wouldn’t be welcome in, his once mighty party.

And at the end of the parade will the city turn its back on the veterans who are homeless?

Remember the St George which is supposed to be for veterans? Remember the article where it told of how a non-veteran excon got a free room at the St George. That night there were hundreds of homeless vets sleeping in doorways, under bridges, in old cars, in bus stations etc.

The city does not care about veterans, this is just a “feel good for the moment” parade.

I am the mother of two sons who have proudly served our nation in Iraq and Afganistan. My oldest is still serving in the SF and he has had four deployments to his record. I just want to say “Thank You” for acknowledging all the young men and women who is paying the price for our freedom. God Bless America!